Combined cigar lighter and flash light



A. E. ANAKIN COMBINED CIGAR LIGHTER AND FLASH LIGHT Sept. 4,

Filed March 15. 1922 attoznu s Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR ERNEST ANAKIN, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANAKIN PROTECTION MFG. (30., 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED CIGAR LIGHTER AND FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed March 15, 1922. Serial No. 544,051.

To aZZ whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR ERNnsrANA- KIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Cigar Lighters and Flash Lights, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a cigar lighter attachment for portable flash lights, and has for its object to provide a combined flash light and cigar lighter in which a single battery furnishes the electric current for the lamp of the flash light and also for the ignition device of the cigar lighter.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be readily handled or packed and carried from place to place in the same manner as the well known portable flash light, and which is available at any time for obtaining a flame with which to light a cigar or make a fire as well as for illuminating purposes.

With the above and other objects in view' the invention consists in certain arrangements and constructions of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims. For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined flash light and cigar lighter device which is constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate more clearly the details of construction.

Figure 3 is a rear end view of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the removable torch member.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the flat contact strip.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the conventional tubular casing 1 of a portable flash light device, said casing being usually formed of some insulating the center contact 6 of the battery 2 when the member 3 is screwed into position. In the present instance one end 7 of a flat conductor strip 7 is interposed between the lamp socket 5 and the contact 6 so that contact is made through this member. As indicated by Figure 5 the end portion 7 of the strip which is received between the members may have a small projection 8 pressed outwardly therefrom, thereby insuring a good electric contact between the members. The flat conductor strip 7 is suitably insulated from the casing and batteries and extends to the rear end of the casing where it makes connection with one of the terminals of the ignition device. The usual switch for controllin the lamp circuit isindicated at 9. The amp circuit and switch are of the conventional construction and no claim to novelty is based thereon.

The rear end of the battery case or concap being unscrewed when it is desired to remove the battery. The cap is provided with a spring contact 11 which engages the base of the battery and contacts therewith. The resiliencyof the contact member also tends to move the battery forwardly in the easing and hold the center contact 6 at the opposite end thereof firmly against the end 7 of the flat strip 7. One end of the strip from which the contact 11 is formed is extended beyond its point of attachment with the cap 7, said point of attachment being indicated at 12, and then carried outwardly through an opening 13 in the cap.

A small receptacle or container 14 is rigidly secured to the exterior of the cap 1, being shown in the present instance as having an elongated formation and as extending transversely across the cap. This contamer--14 is adapted to receive a supply of some inflammable liquid such as alcohol, and may be partially filled with some fibrous material such as cotton to hold the alcohol and prevent it from spilling. The container is normally closed by a cover member 16, said cover being provided with a stem 17 having a swab of asbestos 18 or the like on the end thereof. The asbestos swab may be confined between a pair of discs 19 as indicated on the drawing. The asbestos swab becomes saturated with the alcohol or other inflammable liquid while it is in place with in the container 14:, and means is provided for igniting the swab as it is withdrawn from the container, thereby converting it into a mall torch which can be used for lighting a cigar, cigarette or pipe, or for making any kind of a tire. The cover 16 forms a tight closure for the container 1 1 when it is in position, and the cover is provided with a finger piece 163 by means of which it can be easily handled.

The extended end 11 of the contact member 11 projects through the opening 13 into one side of the container 14. When the cover 16 of the container is removed the swab 18 or discs 19 at the end of the stem 17 engage the member 11 and move or flex it into enga ement with an insulated contact member 2 which is connected with the flat conductor 7. When these two contacts engage each other the circuit through the battery is closed, and the resiliency of the parts is such that they flex back and forth to intermittently make and break the circuit with the result that a spark or a series of sparks are formed and the alcohol saturated swab is ignited.

It will thus be seen that the swab is automatically ignited when it is Withdrawn from the container, and the burning swab forms a torch which can be used for any purpose for which an ordinary match could be used.

The contwt member 20 of the ignition device is insulated from the cap 10, although it extends through the same and terminates upon the inside of the cap in a brush 21 which is adapted to engage an insulating contact ring 23 on the interior of the fibre case 1 at the rear end thereof. This insulated ring 23 is connected to the rear end of the insulating flat conductor strip 7, with the result that when the cap 10 is screwed into position upon the fibre battery case the contact member 20 of the ignition device is electrically connected with the center contact 6 at the forward end of the battery at the same time that the other contact 11 of the ignition device is put into electrical connection with the base of the battery. The two contacts 11 and 20 of the ignition device are normally slightly spaced from each other so that the circuit .is broken, although the opening 13 in the 'cap 10 is suficiently large to permit the contact member 11 to be vibrated or flexed by engagement thereof with the swab 18 or discs 19 upon the end of the stem. The making and breaking of the circuit as these contacts are. flexed into and out of engagement with each other will produce a series of sparks suficient to ignite the reearre alcohol saturated swab as it is withdrawnthe container is filled it will be understood that any other inflammable liquid or substance can be used.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined flashlight and cigar lighter comprising a portable battery container and a battery therein, illuminating means mounted upon the container and in circuit with the battery, a closure member for said container, ignition means mounted upon the closure member and arranged to be placed in circuit with the battery when the closure member is applied to the container and a movable contact member upon said closure for actuating the ignition means to eii'ect a spark.

2. The combination with a portable battery container and a battery therein, of a removable cap normally closing the container, cooperating sparking contacts carried by the cap, a torch arranged upon said cap to coact with said contacts and be ignited thereby and means for automatically connecting the contacts with the battery terininals when the cap is applied to the container.

3. The combination with a portable battery container and a battery therein, of a removable cap normally closing the container, a receptacle mounted upon the cap and adapted to receive inflammable material, a torch member for the receptacle, 2. pair of sparking contact members projecting into the receptacle so as to be engaged by the torch member when it is withdrawn from the receptacle, and means whereb the contact members are automatically plliced in electrical connection with the terminals of the battery when the cap is placed in. position.

a. The combination with a portable battery container and a battery therein, of a cap normally closing the container, a contact member carried by the cap and engaging the base of the battery when the cap is in position, a contact ring within the'container which is in electrical connection with the opposite pole of the battery, a brush member upon the cap for engaging the ring, and a pair of cooperating sparking contact members carried by the cap and connected re spectively with the brush member and the battery engaging contact.

5. The combination with a portable battery container and a battery therein, of a removable cap normally closing the container, a contact member on the cap which engages the base of the batte a contact member on the container whic is in electrical connection with the opposite pole of the battery, a receptacle applied to the cap and adapted to receive an inflammable substance, a torch member for the receptacle, a brush member carried by the cap and adapted to engage the contact member of the container, and a pair of cooperating sparking terminals projecting into the container in the path of the torch member and connected respectively with the brush mem her and the battery engaging contact of the cap.

6. The combination with a tubular battery container and a battery therein,'of removable cap members applied to opposite ends of the container and provided with contact members engaging the opposite poles of the battery and cooperating with each other to retain the battery in position and makeconnection with the poles thereof, illuminating means carried by one of the cap members and adapted to receive current from the battery, and a movable contact member upon the other cap member for actuating the ignition means to effect a spark.

7 The combination with a tubular battery container and a battery therein, of removable cap members closing opposite ends of the tubular container and cooperating with each other to retain the battery in position and to make contact with the two poles of the battery, illuminatin means mounted upon one of the cap mem rs and adapted to be operated by the current from the battery, a receptacle carried by the other cap member and adapted to receive inflammable material, a. torch member for the receptacle, a pair of cooperating sparking contacts projecting into the receptacle in the path of the torch member for engagement thereby When the torch member is withdrawn, and means for automatically placing the sparkin contacts in connection with the two po es of the battery when the cap members of the casing are in operative position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR ERNEST ANAKIN. 

